Solar farms are becoming common in Australia. They operate in a similar way to household rooftop, only on a large scale with different ownership arrangements. It is appropriate to call them 'farms' because they harvest energy on a large scale and potentially with better efficiency than a domestic rooftop system. For example, a 2.5MW solar plant using single-axis tracking panels would generate about 5,000 MWh of pollution-free electricity per year (compared to about  3,660 MWh expected for fixed panels).  

The Australian Energy Regulator figures gives the Victorian average annual kwh consumption as 6411kWh so the output of our 2.5MWNewstead solar farm would supply approximately 1,080 households. 

To generate an equivalent amount of electricity, Victoria's brown-coal fired power station Yallourn would emit 6,650 tonnes of CO2 (at 1.33 tonnes CO2 per Mwh). The slightly more efficient Loy Yang power stations A and B would emit 5,750 tonnes of CO2. Solar farms emit zero greenhouse gases to generate electricity. 

Most solar farms are operated as commercial entities who sell power into the grid for a return on investment. Until recently their output was restricted to daylight hours but with the development of grid-scale batteries, solar farms also are now able to move some of their output to after-dark demand such as evening cooking/lighting/heating. 

Typically an owner/operator would lease the land for a fixed period, for example 20 or 30 years, with the option of extending/terminating the lease at the end. Often a large proportion of the output is sold through a mechanism of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to large consumers such as companies or government which gives some certainty for investors. Solar farms are similar to domestic rooftop systems in that they connect to the grid, but they connect to the high-voltage lines  such as 22kv or 66 kv (22,000 or 66,000 volts) to handle the greater power. Beyond the boundaries of the solar farm, Powercor (the business responsible for the poles and wires) manages and regulates the flow of power supplied by the farm, maintaining standards of voltage and frequency. 

Solar farms have a low profile (compared to wind farms) and with screening can be entirely out of the sight of public gaze. They have no moving parts, except for when the panels can track the sun to get more energy, and low levels of noise. The application process involves many studies and reports covering planning issues around land use. 

All of these factors made solar the logical choice to bring renewable energy to the Newstead community.

At the beginning of this project, RN entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning about how and when RN would expend a Victorian Government $1 million grant. 

This required us to meet milestones by allotted dates to receive funding in stages. 

Due to some delays and changed circumstances as a result of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, as well as varied requirements, this agreement has needed to be changed to fit the new project trajectory. 

DELWP acknowledged the hurdles face by RN and has agreed to support us in those changes and has offered:  

• More time to meet the changed requirements of the project 
• A restructured funding agreement to better account for the base costs regardless of the farm size 
• Practical support in the form of consultancy work to aid in the technical side of the project. 

This agreement includes a construction completion date of October 2022, when construction will be finished and the farm will be ready to open. 

This updated agreement is now being finalised and will enable the project to continue through the next steps 

While we’ve been quiet for some time on our website, we’ve been busy elsewhere getting all of the bits together to get our solar field online.

Here’s a quick update on developments:

We have chosen our site and applied for a planning permit to build a small-scale solar farm there. After chatting with site neighbours, we sought and gained a planning permit for a scaled-down (from 10MW) 5MW farm. 

We have contracted studies necessary for approval to send our power through Powercor’s power lines. These include:

• a steady state study – to assess the existing state of the power distribution and how the lines work in the area specific to Newstead
• a dynamic modelling study – to assess how the power lines would handle any contingencies once our farm is connected. 

We operated a Request for Quote process to secure partners to build, own and operate the farm and to sell the electricity it generates. 

We settled on a company called Flow Power to take charge of finance, construction and retail. Watch this space for more details. 

We’re now working with Flow Power to come up with a good, low-cost electricity pricing structure for Newstead residents and customers of our proposed solar farm.  It’s likely this will be finalised in the first quarter of next year. 

It might seem odd that we’re working out pricing before building the farm. However Flow Power, who would build the farm and retail the energy, needs to know costs and Renewable Newstead needs to be satisfied that pricing for Newstead is the best possible.

Many milestones remain but with excellent project partners, a site, and continued support by the Victorian Government, we are well on our way to project development!

Renewable Newstead is so pleased to invite you all to a major update on our small-scale solar farm plans on Thursday August 5th.

This will be in an online forum at 7.30-9.30pm.
A link for the online meeting will be posted on this website and on social media prior to the event.

Over the past 18 months, we have made great steps and wish to update and inform the people of Newstead (Victoria) and surrounds about that progress.

You will:
- get an update on what's happening with the project
- meet our prospective solar farm builder/operator
- hear about proposed electricity pricing
- have an opportunity to ask questions about any aspect of this project

So if you're from Newstead, Green Gully, Welshmans Reef, Sandon and Muckleford South or the surrounding areas of Strangways, Clydesdale, Joyces Creek or Yandoit, or if you're just an intersted party, consider yourself invited. Come along for a great morning of conversations and get to know what our solar future might look like. 

Image: Approximate view of the revised farm layout

Our refined plan will reduce the farm's energy producing capacity to 5MW, down from 9MW.

Formal comments and objections to RN's planning application to the Victorian Planning Minister closed in late September.

Three factors have influenced RN's decision to refine its plan.

• Response from our community (two objections and one comment)
• Response from referral authorities including the CFA.
• Feedback from the energy industry around current connection issues which indicates that for our ambitions (to supply Newstead or at least all of the 3462 postcode with renewable energy) 5MW is the optimal size.

View the submitted amended plan for a 5MW solar farm here from 26 October 2020.

Two vital steps in Newstead’s bid to establish a local solar farm to supply our community with renewably-generated electricity are now in motion.

Community organisation, Renewable Newstead, is awaiting the Victorian Planning Minister’s decision whether or not to grant a permit to build the small scale generator after comments and objections on its planning applications closed late last month.

We are also finalising the tender or bid documents that will form our formal call for quotes from companies to build and operate the farm and sell the electricity. It’s likely these will go out nationally in October.

It’s a key time for the project. If and when the permit is granted and the quotes come in, RN will shortlist companies based on key criteria before introducing the shortlisted bidders to the community. More on that process to come, so watch our website www.renewablenewstead.com.au and join our mailing list to make sure you’re part of that. 

Meantime, the Department of Planning is assessing our proposal for a solar farm of up to 10MW about 3km west of Newstead at the corner of Captains Gully Rd and Clarke Lane.  The Victorian Minister for Planning will then decide to grant or refuse a permit. 

Since 2015 our team has been working on realising an innovative model for a community solar farm that generates as much clean electricity as Newstead consumes each year (2 – 3 MW).

The model, advised by Energy for the People with funding grants from the Victorian Government, is unique in that it does not require initial community up-front investment and will allow any Newstead business and household the choice to purchase renewable energy from the Newstead Solar Farm by simply switching to the eventual electricity retailer.

Key points about the Renewable Newstead model include:

• commercially viable, grid connected, small scale solar farm
• managed by a retail partner for locals to opt in (or not)
• constructed and managed by a commercial partner
• day time (renewable) energy use rewarded with cheaper rates

Contact Renewable Newstead.

Project update - Zoom meeting Thursday, Sept 10. 7:25pm for a 7:30pm start

Renewable Newstead is inviting the local community to an update on our project.

Hear about:

• Brief project summary

• What’s happening now

• Next steps

Got any questions ? Here’s your chance to ask them. Thursday Sept 10. 7.30-8.30pm. email us info@renewablenewstead.com.au before 5pm on Thursday Sept 10 to request a Zoom link to join the meeting.

ABC - 24 August 2020

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Midland Express - 25 August 2020

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Bendigo Advertiser - 20 August 2020

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Renewable Newstead (RN), the community group behind the innovative plan for a solar farm of up to 10 megawatts (MW), says the planning permit application is a great step towards its goal of delivering affordable and reliable renewable energy to Newstead and surrounds.

“We have applied for a permit to build a solar farm big enough to generate enough electricity for Newstead (2-3MW) plus some extra to make it viable for a commercial partner to build and operate,” RN’s spokesperson Gen Barlow said.

“Our permit, if granted, would allow a solar array of up to 10MW or up to 27, 400 solar photovoltaic panels, though the size is not finalised. The panels will track the sun.

“We have been working towards this for nine years, ever since our community said it wanted to address our energy needs and emissions, and for our volunteer group and our community, this is a very exciting phase.”

The proposed site is the corner of Captains Gully Rd and Clarke Lane, 3km west of Newstead. The panels would cover about 20hectares of the 73hectare site.

This site was chosen from six sites offered by local landowners in response to our call for expressions of interest in leasing land for the farm. The land is currently grazed and will be leased from its owner for 25 years. Grazing can continue.

The solar array will be connected to the current 22kV powerline that runs along the Pyrenees Highway, 500 metres north of the site.

“While the farm plan itself is fairly standard, albeit modest in size, it’s the model for the farm’s operation and retailing the electricity generated by it, that is especially innovative and one that we think will excite the energy industry,” Gen said.

“We believe our model will deliver renewably-sourced electricity at lower prices to all, including renters and people who can’t afford to install solar panels at home, while also
accounting for grid costs. That’s a pretty good trifecta and one we think solves a lot of issues for delivering renewable energy locally.”

“Power distributor Powercor partnered with us to trial a special tariff for Newstead that will help this project deliver.”

It’s expected construction would begin within 12 months of the planning permit being granted.

The planning permit application is open for review and a decision by the Planning Minister is not expected before September 23, 2020.

Renewable Newstead would also welcome any feedback, comment or queries via email at info@renewablenewstead.com.au or via our website at www.renewablenewstead.com.au

In another key step, Renewable Newstead will this week call for expressions of interest from companies keen to build and operate the generator and retail the electricity it produces.

This will set the stage for a formal call for tenders for these contracts later this year.

Contacts for media
Genevieve Barlow, Renewable Newstead 0427 762633 (available after 1.30pm Thurs & Fri)
Geoff Park, Renewable Newstead, 0418 138 632
For questions about the planning permit application process, Fi Cotter of Energy Forms, 0408 587 095

To start gathering information, the team leading this project is asking Mount Alexander Shire households to complete a survey and will also set up space online at OurSay where people can submit  ideas for helping reach zero net emissions.

1. Click here to fill in the household survey 

The survey will help the Z-Net MAS project team understand how we as the community of Mount Alexander Shire currently use energy in our homes, how we travel and use water and waste.  According to the Z-Net MAS team, by completing this survey you will provide valuable bottom-up and localised data to help guide  Mount Alexander Shire’s transition.

Please answer the questions in accordance with your ‘typical’ behaviour, rather than your behaviour during COVID-19 restrictions and only one respondee per household. Please share this with local friends, family and neighbours via email and social media, so that we can get a genuine representative sample.

2. Provide community project ideas (to be released in June)

A collaborative platform called OurSay is being set up to harvest community climate action ideas and projects. This platform will include existing ideas from the Shire’s Climate Change Forum and will be open for all community members to add new ideas and vote on their priorities.

A community steering group has been established to guide the program in this first phase.

The program is being led by Renew in collaboration with the community. Renew led the Hepburn Z-NET program which was developed as an open-source model and all of the developed resources are being shared for the Mount Alexander Shire program.

Partial funding for this program has been secured from Sustainability Victoria under the Zero Carbon Community Transition Program and Mount Alexander Shire Council.